Japanese whaling—a threat to whale recovery

The Australian Government’s whale recovery plans, released today by the
Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, are a welcome step in the right
direction.

However, the plans are powerless to stop Japanese whaling—one of the most
serious threats to whale recovery.

“It is all well and good for Australia to attempt to put her own house in
order but there are other governments that are determined to tear the house down
brick by brick,” said Darren Kindleysides, of IFAW Asia Pacific.

Japan currently kills up to 440 minke whales in the Antarctic for so-called
‘scientific’ purposes. Reports indicate that Japan intends to increase
this catch to more than 800 minke whales and add two further species of
whale—humpback and fin—to their expanded Antarctic whaling program.

“While the Australian Government has condemned Japan’s proposal, we need to
see concrete action to ensure the proposal is withdrawn,” said Mr
Kindleysides.

“Will the Government call for the Japanese Government to be brought before
the International Court of Justice to face charges of abuse of rights? “Will the Government stop Japanese fishing boats entering our ports—after all
we have done so in the past?”

Australia and New Zealand banned port access to Japanese tuna boats in early
1998 when the two countries and Japan fell out over the allowable catch for
Southern Bluefin Tuna.

“We look forward to seeing these questions answered as there will be no whale
recovery without an end to the sham that is ‘scientific’ whaling,” said Mr
Kindleysides.